Tour de Bonnechere 2013

EGANVILLE – Picture perfect and sunny weather brought out the cyclists to take part in the fourth annual Tour de Bonnechere.

On Sunday morning, a total of 150 riders of all ages from North Bay to Ottawa and beyond tackled the challenges of the backroads of the Bonnechere Valley, either to test the mettle of even the most experienced road warrior, or to simply enjoy the ride.

Enjoyment is the key description for the event, ride organizer Erin Whyte said.

"This isn’t a race, nor was it meant to be," she said. "This is meant to be a fun, community based activity to get people out, promote safe cycling and to enjoy what the Bonnechere Valley has to offer."

The event, as is traditional, also served to raise funds for worthy local causes, with proceeds being donated to them. While the final totals weren’t in yet, Whyte estimates they should be able to donate between $600 to $700 to the Eganville and Area Food Bank, and around $2,000 for the Pembroke Regional Hospital’s MRI Fund.

Staged for its second year out of Eganville’s Legion Memorial Field, cyclists registered and started out from there, returning to wrap up their rides in the late morning or early afternoon, with the event ending with a barbecue.

Riders had a choice of routes and courses to take which suited them best: they could do a 60 or 100 km course, a special alternate 45-50 km route which avoids the dreaded Foymount Hill, and an 18 km scenic family ride to the Bonnechere Caves, where riders also had the chance to tour the caves during their rest and snack stop there before heading back.

The event has a long history. Members of the local cycling community held this event in Lapasse for a number of years, then decided to relocate four years ago to Bonnechere Valley for a change of scenery.

Whyte said for its first two years, the tour was held out of the Bonnechere Caves, but outgrew its location, so it was moved in 2012 to the memorial field. The cave’s owner Chris Hinsperger and his staff remain strong supporters of the event, coming out to help run it.

"Chris has been a real sponsor from the beginning," she said, and still enthusiastically supports it.

Another dedicated sponsor was Gearheads of Petawawa, which also provided technical support in case cyclists ran into trouble.